Just took my Savage out for its first run in, probably, 3 years. I was not expecting sparkling performance but the engine seems to be quite lumpy. Full throttle type acceleration seems to be fine but if I open up the throttle for moderate acceleration the engine seems to be quite ... well. lumpy and rough... almost echoing the thump thump of the single cyclinder. Is this right? I ask as I have never really run a single cylinder before.

Run out two tanks of gasoline before you start getting all judgmental -- the bike has been in storage for 3 years after all.

First question -- are you running the stock vacuum actuated petcock?


IF so do this      http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1251932429/1   and LEAVE IT THAT WAY for at least one full tank of gasoline.

Many times the stock vac petcock can cause the bikes to run like shite all by itself (it is the number 1 cause of odd running on the Savage).

All it really takes to make one rough running is a tank of bad fuel.

Happened to me yesterday. Had to hit reserve on the interstate, and hunt for a gas station at the next exit. The one I found apparently has really dirty or really waterlogged gas. Top speed coming home late last night was 63mph. No power, lots of shaking, popping, bucking... I'll just drain the rest of the tank into the driveway (kill a few zillion weeds) and refuel with fresh farm gas. Alcohol free. Add a splash of SeaFoam, Berryman B12 or ATF and ride it until the jets clear themselves out again.  

Simple engine, simple carburetor, usually simple fixes.

Stumbling and popping is one of a very few things: Dirty gas. Water logged gas. Gummed/plugged jets. Sticky slide. Pinhole in the slide diaphragm. Bad petcock (mine runs a Raptor already). Holed vacuum line if running the stock petcock.

My money is on, in order: too high a gear for the speed you are riding, dirty jets, petcock.

Thanks for all the input.

The gas is new and clean. I just ran it again and the motor just stopped and will not start again ( turns over but wont fire ).

I suppose I will have to take the carb off and clean or try the tapping on the side of the carb bowl thing first.